John Wille was appointed to the Pontiac City Council Monday night to fill the remainder of a term recently vacated.

Wille replaces Jerry Mabrey, an alderman in Ward 5, who moved from the area. Mayor Bob Russell said he had to talk with several people for months before Wille said he would take the position.

The 66-year-old Wille is a retired Dwight Township High School teacher. He has no political background, but brings years of community service to the seat.

"I've lived here since 1969 and have been active in coaching, teaching and now that I'm retired I have more time that I could devote to city activities and volunteering activities, which I have done for the last two years."

Wille is married with six grown children, all of whom attended Pontiac schools. Wille will be sworn in to office at the Aug. 5 meeting

Also at Monday night's meeting, the council approved the ordinance for fines to be raised for parking violations in the downtown area.

"The ordinance was just passed tonight (Monday), but signs have to be put up and once the signs go up, it's in effect," the mayor stated.

He gave no timetable for when the ordinance would happen but did say, "I'll have to talk to the street department, but I'm guessing within a few weeks this will be rolling." Russell went on to say, "We are going to be nice about this and a lot of this is the employees that park downtown and we need that to change in those parking spaces. Every business owner will be notified when the change takes effect.”

In other action, the council:

• Approved the recommendations by the Infrastructure Committee to have skip patching and seal coating done on some streets in the city.

• Agreed to allow the city to enter in a contract for $3,000 with Farnsworth Group topographic survey to be done on 4-H Park road. The survey could start as early as next Monday.

• Learned from Street Superintendent Chris Brock that a used fuel tanker at the airport would be sold to Childers Auto Salvage and Scrap for $300.

• Issued a parade permit to the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce for the annual Threshermen's Parade on Sept. 1.

• Approved use of the Rec-Plex for a circus, if needed. Lori Fairfield, executive director of P.R.O.U.D., said the circus would be in Pontiac Tuesday, Aug. 27. Fairfield said she is also talking to the owners of Vermillion Plaza to possibly use that site.